1The preaching of John the Baptist: his office, and manner of living: 5he baptizeth in Jordan, 7and rebuketh the Pharisees. 13Christ is baptized, and receiveth a witness from heaven.
1IN those days came aJohn the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
a Mar. 1.2-8. Lu. 3.2-17; 1.5-25,28,57-80; 3.23. Jn. 1.6,7,20. Jos. 15.61. Is. 40.3. Jn. 3.23.
2And saying, bRepent ye: for cthe kingdom of heaven is at hand.
b ch. 4.17. Ac. 2.38,39; 3.19. Lu. 13.3,5. Is. 55.7. Eze. 33.11. c Da. 2.44; 7.13,14. ch. 5.10; 10.7. Mar. 1.15.
3For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, dThe voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
d Is. 40.3. Mar. 1.3. Lu. 3.4. Jn. 1.23. Mal. 3.1; 4.2,5,6.
4And the same John ehad his *raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and fhis *meat was locusts and gwild honey.
*raiment-clothing, attire.
*meat-food of any kind.
e ch. 11.8. Mar. 1.6. 2Ki. 1.8. Mal. 4.5. Lu. 1.17. Zec. 13.4. f ch. 11.18. Le. 11.22. g 1Sa. 14.26.
5hThen went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
h Mar. 1.5. Lu. 16.16; 3.3,7. Jn. 1.6,7,15-28; 5.35. ch. 11.12. Ac. 19.3-5,18; 1.5; 2.38,39. Mal 4.6.
6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7¶But when he saw many of ithe Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, jO generation of vipers, who hath warned you to kflee from the lwrath to come?
i Ac. 15.5; 26.5; 23.8,9. ch. 22.23,34; 23.1-29. Lu. 7.30. j ch. 12.34; 23.33. Is. 59.5. Lu. 3.7; 18.9,11. Ac. 23.8. k Je. 51.6. Ro. 1.18. l 1Th. 1.10. 2Th. 1.9. Ro. 5.9.
8mBring forth therefore fruits 1*meet for repentance:
1Or, answerable to amendment of life.
*meet-suitable, fit.
m Ac. 26.20. Ga. 5.22,23. 2Pe. 1.4-10. 2Co. 7.1,11.
9And think not to say within yourselves, nWe have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able oof these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
n Jn. 8.33,39. Ac. 13.26. Je. 7.4. Ro. 4.1,11,16. o Jos. 4.3,8. ch. 8.11,12; 21.43. Lu. 19.40. Ac. 15.14.
10And pnow also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: qtherefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is *hewn down, and cast into the fire.
*hewn-cut.
p De. 20.20. Lu. 3.9; 23.31; 19.42. Jn. 12.35. 2Co. 6.2. He. 2.1,3; 3.7-13; 4.1; 10.26-29. q ch. 7.19. Jn. 15.2,6. 1Pe. 4.17,18. Is. 33.14. He. 6.8; 10.27. Eze. 15.
11rI indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: sbut he that cometh after me tis mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: uhe shall baptize you with vthe Holy *Ghost, and with fire:
*Ghost-Spirit.
r Mar. 1.8. Lu. 3.16. Jn. 1.26. Ac. 1.5; 11.16; 19.4. v.2,8. s Jn. 1.26,33. t Jn. 1.15,27; 3.28-36. Lu. 1.16,17. u Is. 44.3. Mal. 3.2,3. Ga. 4.6. Tit. 3.5. Ac. 1.5; 2.3,4; 11.15. Jn. 1.33. 1Co. 12.13. v Joel 2.28.
12wWhose *fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the *garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
*fan-fork-like tool used for winnowing.
*garner-barn, grain store.
w Lu. 3.17. ch. 13.30,42. Ps. 1.4. Mal. 4.1; 3.2,3. Mar. 9.44. Mi. 4.12. Job 21.18.
13¶xThen cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
x Mar. 1.9. Lu. 3.21,22. ch. 2.22.
14But John forbad him, saying, yI have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
y Ge. 32.10. 1Ch. 29.14. 2Ch. 2.6. Ep. 3.8.
15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for zthus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
z Ps. 40.6-8. Je. 30.21. He. 7.22. Is. 42.21. Da. 9.24. Phi. 2.6-8. Ga. 4.4,5. Ro. 5.15-21; 3.25,26. 2Co. 5.21. Is. 53.
16aAnd Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
a Mar. 1.10. Lu. 3.21,22. Jn. 1.32,33; 3.34. Ps. 45.7; 89.20. Is. 11.2-4; 42.1; 61.1. Col. 1.19.
17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, bThis is my cbeloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
b Ps. 2.7. Is. 42.1,4,21. ch. 12.18; 17.5. Mar. 1.11. Lu. 3.22; 9.35. 2Pe. 1.17. Col. 1.13. Ep. 1.6. Jn. 12.28. c ch. 17.5. Mar. 9.7.